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WhiteBlaze Pages
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TOP OF GEORGIA HIKING CENTER open for 2018 season

The Top of Georgia Hiking Center is located on a very beautiful and unique parcel of land completely surrounded by US Forest Service lands. Located directly on the main road (US Hwy 76) that intersects with the Appalachian Trail (Dicks Creek Gap). It's only a 1/2 mile short walk west of the Appalachian Trail. From the AT northbound hikers turn left, southbound hikers turn right. The complex is surrounded by rocking chair porches - including our back porch to a beautiful view! They are pet friendly, offering four bunk with dog bed separate suit.

Full kitchen available for hikers 24 hours, located in the Yahoola Cotttage.

Maximum length of stay at Top of Georgia is 1 DAY unless slackpacking had been previously arranged

OFFERS FULL SERVICE SHUTTLING

FREE SHUTTLES TO & FROM Top of Georgia to / from both UNICOI GAP (Northbound AT mile 52.6) and DICKS CREEK GAP (Northbound AT mile 69.3) for our paid RESERVED guests. Pickups are "On -Demand" (you call us for pick-up from the gap). Earliest pick-ups at 8:30am & latest at 6pm. RETURN TRIPS leave Top of Georgia at 8am and 9am daily for Dicks Creek Gap and 8am to Unicoi.
FREE SHUTTLE to / from the town of Hiawassee, GA - DAILY for our paid guests (the day that you check in). This "town shuttle" leaves Top of Georgia at 4pm daily and picks-up in town (and returns to Top of Georgia) daily at 6:20 at a designated spot in the middle of Hiawassee.
SHUTTLES FOR A FEE - for BOTH guests and non-guests - ranging as far south as the MARTA "North Springs" Station tram (that goes to/from Atlanta Airport) - to as far north as the Nantahala Outdoors Center. (But NOT between Feb. 15 and May 15).

RESERVATIONS ARE ACCEPTED - BUT PLEASE BE AWARE: a) In order to reserve a bunk or shuttle you must charge it in full - in advance. b) Cancellations made 8 days or more - prior to arrival - are entitled to a FULL REFUND. Cancellations made 7 days prior to arrival are entitled to a 50% refund. Cancellations made less than 7 days prior to arrival are non-refundable, non-transferable, and have no credit value. A date change to a reservation is treated as a cancellation and rebooking. Credit for the re-booking will be given in the same terms as the refund stated above. Date changes made within 7 days of arrival will not have a credit applied to the new booking. Prices on unconfirmed reservations are subject to change at any time without notice. Recommended that you plan ahead (as much as you can) for unforeseen circumstances that could necessitate a cancellation of your reservation.

An economical hiker hostel in the true Appalachian Trail spirit!
FREE all-you-can-eat cereal breakfast with your stay
FREE shuttles to / from Dicks Creek Gap and Unicoi Gap with your stay
FREE shuttle to / from town of Hiawassee, GA with your stay (times posted daily)
They have BOTH bunk rooms and private cabins
Full service gear and re-supply shop only 1/2 mile walk from the Appalachian Trail
Accept your boxes shipped ahead
Interesting seminars and events held every day
Appalachian Trail School held twice each month FREE OF CHARGE
Cyclist base camp along the route of the TNGA

My husband and I will be forever grateful to the folks at the Top of Georgia Hostel. We did our first section hike ever, starting in late May, going into June. On Memorial Day, during the worst of tropical storm Alberto, we awoke to torrential rains and found that our bear canister, filled to the brim with recently re-supplied food and other items, had disappeared - some bear knocked it to who knows where. We hiked several miles to Tasnatee Gap, still in torrential rain and wind, had no cell service there, and hitchhiked to no avail several more miles. Finally the shuttle from the Top of Georgia Hostel happened to go by, picking up another drenched hiker. On the return, they pulled over, took us onboard and back to the hostel. There, we were welcomed with hot coffee, scrubs to change into, a hot shower and a laundry basket for every single item of ours - everything was soaking wet. Over the course of our 105 mile section hike, we ended up spending a total of 5 nights at this hostel (due to resupplying everything we lost, a pair of sprained ankles and more torrential rain). Bob and Carey, the hosts were kind, informative and helpful. The hostel itself provided great bunks, their swift laundry service, free cereal breakfast, free shuttle rides into Hiawasee, a full kitchen, and a gear shop (where I bought a top quality rain jacket.) We also had use of the living room in the main lodge with free wifi. My husband and I were finally able to complete our section hike, thanks to the hospitality of these wonderful folks. if 5 stars is the best a hostel can get, I would give them 100!
Nancy and Harold Elliott